Ripped ─ T-Shirts from the Underground

A visual history of counterculture music T-shirts, spanning the defining era of indie music. Ripped is the first book to document the shirts of the post-punk and indie period, after the submission of 1960s rock ‘n’ roll to mass popularity and before the onset of ironic consumerism. Carefully selected from the archives of vintage fashion collector Cesar Padilla, the 200 T-shirts in this book are classic examples of rare and extremely limited shirts created by and for the very bands who embodied the true essence of the DIY and indie movements—from The Ramones to Sonic Youth, John Cale, Talking Heads, Madonna, X, Pil, The Germs, and many others. Each shirt has been photographed in all its gritty, sweat-stained glory just as it was found—on the street, in a thrift store, or inherited from a friend. Introduced by Lydia Lunch, the book includes recollections and ruminations from musicians, fashion designers, and pop culture personalities on the enigmatic and enduring appeal of the rock band T-shirt.

Cesar Padilla has owned Cherry—rated among the top ten vintage boutiques in the world by The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Elle—since 1997. Padilla has written for The New York Times, Index, Fantastic Man, and Butt Magazine.

Lydia Lunch is a musician, actress, and writer who has worked with some of the biggest bands and directors of the 1980s and 1990s.

Betsey Johnson is a world-renowned fashion designer based in New York.

Will Oldham is an actor and musician who has played in such bands as the Palace Brothers.